In recent years, patients, lay publications, and consumer groups have expressed concern about whether benzodiazepines are overprescribed. Psychiatrists have raised questions about the potential for these medications—especially some of the newer, high-potency, short half-life compounds—to produce serious side effects as well as to induce drug dependence.

Benzodiazepine Dependence, Toxicity, and Abuse provides clinicians with a review of the available information on the potential hazards of benzodiazepine treatment and offers suggestions for the rational prescription of these medications.

"This timely APA task force report on benzodiazepines should be ‘must reading’ for every prescribing clinician. Rarely does the reader find in one place a clear guide in using a class of psychotropic agents. In addition to their dealing with the myth of excessive benzodiazepine abuse, the authors have described the relative risk-benefit ratios, the ‘epidemiology’ of use, and given us succinct guidelines for the appropriate use of benzodiazepines in clinical practice."—David J. Kupfer, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh